ringing in the new year in hope

Well 2016 has come and gone, so here are some highlights of our past year:

March 21: we became Mr. and Mrs. Efthimiou (has a nice *ring* to it)

May 14: we became Master and Master Efthimiou

June 10: we moved to Aspen, CO for the summer, and sometime in the beginning there (without a mixing bowl or a cutting board or measuring cups) I began this blog

August 22: we moved to Memphis, TN, my hometown

We’ve lived in 5 different places in 3 different states since we’ve been married. (ask me about the two apartments in Aspen sometime–it’s a good story)

Here are some things I have learned this year:

Marriage is hard. I think it’s even harder for an only child although I have no statistical proof; BUT marriage is mostly a huge blessing. Not because Nathaniel is wonderfully gracious, loving, patient, and kind, (although he is all these things) but because marriage highlights my selfishness and unworthiness. (and that’s a blessing??) well, yes. I need a savior–not in my husband, but in Christ. I cannot love my husband or bring him joy without Christ.

We’ve faced many changes this year. Change is hard–it brings out our insecurities, our doubts, and our fears. Change can also cause us to feel alone. It has been a challenging year as we have been trying to figure out “what we are doing with our lives.” But we are young and careers take time to build, friendships take time to form, and a home takes time to feel comfortable. It is hard for our generation to have patience in this world of immediate gratification, but we must be strong in our faith and remain anchored in the truth. In all our endeavors, big and small, we must seek Him first; and we must sit still and listen. and wait.

As we begin this new year, I find myself meditating on these verses and praying for a renewed spirit in my heart.

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly that he ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, in zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12: 1-12